Pubs don’t just offer good beer and good chat. Many are living relics of British history, decked out with gorgeous stained glass windows, dark wood saloons, ceramic tiled bars and lavish chandeliers. Others aren’t so old, but still pay homage to the beautiful pub designs of the past.
What we’re saying is that there are some absolute stunners of pubs out there – and heaps of them are in London. Now, three beautiful pubs in the capital have been recognised in the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)’s Pub Design Awards 2026.
The annual awards are split into five categories: the Historic England conservation award, the conversion to pub use award, the new build award, the refurbishment award and the community local award. In total, three London pubs picked up prizes. Here they are in all their glory.
CAMRA Pub Design Awards 2026
Blue Stoops, Kensington
Taking home joint first prize in the conversion to pub use category was the Blue Stoops in Kensington. It opened back in 2024 following an enormous refurbishment of the former Kensington Wine Rooms, commissioned by Jamie Allsopp of heritage Midlands brewery Allsopp & Sons. The new look included height partitions and glazed screening, new fixed seating, new signage and lighting and a ceramic bar. Blue Stoops won top prize alongside St Peter’s Tavern in Liverpool.
Leyton Engineer, Leyton
The winner of CAMRA’s refurbishment award, which recognises ‘originality and imagination’ in the way an existing pub has been refurbed, went to the Leyton Engineer. The pub sits in a grand Grade II-listed building that was originally built as Leyton Town Hall in 1895. It’s recent makeover involved the restoration of historic features such as the glazed screens and the mosaic and terrazzo floors plus the installation of a a new bar back and brass chandeliers. CAMRA called it ‘one of the most impressive pub interiors in east London’. Runner-up for the restoration award was fellow Leyton pub, The European.
Lord Southampton, Kentish Town
Finally, NW5’s Lord Southampton was the winner of the community local award, a prize reserved for the ‘outstanding conservation or refurbishment of street-corner pubs at the centre of the local community’. Hidden down a backstreet between Kentish Town and Belsize Park and once frequented by Karl Marx, the Lord Southampton was derelict and boarded up for several years. Then, Aimee Brown and Phil Harrington took on the lease in 2024 to finally bring it back to life. Original floorboards and damaged wall-panelling were restored, the bar area was upgraded and a new hand painted signage was commissioned.
Other London boozers to get a mention in the awards included Leyton’s European (‘highly commended’ in the refurb category) and Fitzrovia’s Duke of York (‘commended’ in the refurb category).
ICYMI: Two of Britain’s best gastropubs are in London.
Plus: This famous central London bar is getting a saloon dedicated to Guinness.
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